AXTS. 17 



Upon the plan thus traced they continue 

 building, till they have arrived at a sufficient 

 elevation. Masses of moistened earth are 

 then applied at right angles to the tops of the 

 walls, on each side, and continued in a hori- 

 zontal direction, till they meet in the middle. 

 The ceilings of the larger chambers are com 

 pleted in the same manner ; the workers be- 

 ginning from the angles of the walls, and 

 from the tops of the pillars which have been 

 raised in the centre. The largest of these 

 chambers, which might be compared to the 

 town-hall^ and which is frequently more than 

 two inches in diameter, is completed with ap- 

 parently as much ease as the rest. This 

 busy crowd of masons, arriving in every di- 

 rection, laden with materials for the building, 

 hastening to avail themselves of the rain to 

 carry on their work, and yet observing the 

 most perfect order in their operations, present 

 the most interesting and amusing spectacle. 

 They raise a single story, in about seven or 

 eight hours, forming a general roof as a co- 

 vering to the whole ; and they go on, adding 

 other stories, so long as the rain affords them 

 the facility of moulding the materials. AVhen 

 c3 



